UCC and Values in Action partnership working to promote kindness across the country

The United Church of Christ is part of a collaborative effort bringing together national brands, schools, civic leaders, first responders, influencers and nonprofits with one mission: to create a more connected, compassionate country through the simple power of everyday acts of kindness.

This “The United States of Kindness” campaign is spearheaded by the Values in Action Foundation, launching ahead of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026. Through stories, challenges, events, and resources, the hope is to fill America with the powerful message that kindness, throughout history and currently, is our shared strength.

The Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson, General Minister and President/CEO of the UCC, attended a meeting of the Kindland National Leadership Council last week at The Metropolitan Club in New York City. This group of senior executives, civic leaders, and faith-based representatives from across the country believe in the power of kindness and are committed to acting on that belief and this campaign. The discussion centered around how organizations like the UCC can help make kindness a defining legacy of America’s 250th anniversary.

“The United Church of Christ is partnering with Values in Action on its national initiative United States of Kindness, an amplification of its work and mission in Cleveland for over 30 years,” Thompson said. “This effort promotes kindness as an essential value, one which is rooted in the Christian faith as love of neighbor. When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God and the second is to love our neighbors as ourselves. Kindness is love in action.” 

The Ask

This United States of Kindness campaign challenges Americans to complete and share 250 acts of kindness in 2026. Partners will amplify this challenge through co-branded content, social media, events, and community outreach.

Stuart Muszynski, founder, President and CEO of the Values in Action Foundation, shared, “Rev. Thompson’s leadership and voice brought a powerful perspective to our conversation. Her commitment to compassion and to turning kindness into action bridges communities and inspires hope, reflecting exactly what the United States of Kindness initiative and our overall mission are all about.” He continued, “We are very much looking forward to future collaboration with the United Church of Christ to help bring our divided nation together and inspire hope for current and future generations of Americans.”

Projected impact

The United States of Kindness project hopes to have a big impact on the way citizens treat each other. This includes:

● 250 Million of acts of kindness;
● 10 million+ reached through media;
● 25,000+ schools engaged;
● 10 million students;
● 10,000+ organizations and non-profits;
● Thousands of stories shared;
● National Kindness Impact Report published in December 2026.

Acts of kindness also make good business sense, according to the Kindland organization. Studies show that when kindness is embedded in workplace culture, it boosts employee satisfaction, increases retention, and improves productivity. These outcomes support the bottom line while advancing positive social impact.

The Kindland National Leadership Council supports national growth by opening doors, offering insights, and serving as visible champions of our mission to shape a cultural movement to improve our schools, communities, and workplaces, primarily geared to high school students in economically challenged areas of America, with the primary objective to lower violence and bullying, and increase graduation rates, job readiness and optimism in in the future in these most divided of times.  

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